The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-12
THE HOUSE.
Passage of the Agricultural Department Bill
Vigorous Talk About Pleuro-P neumonia.

THE HOUSE.
Passage of the Agricultural Department Bill
Vigorous Talk About Pleuro-Pnsumonia.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.-On motion of Mr.
Bragg, Of Wisconsin, Senate amendments were
concurred in to the bill providing for a school of
instruction for cavalry and light artillery.
Mr.. Blanchard, Of Louisiana from the COM
mittee on rivers and harbors, reported back the
resolution calling on the Secretary Of War for
information to what steps have been taken to
cause the removal of the sand-bar which has
formed against the piers of the Vlcksburg,
Shreveport & Pacific railroad bridge spanning
the Red river, at Shreveport. La. Adopted.
Mr.. Willis, of Kentucky, reported back the
river and harbor appropriation bill. aud it was
referred to the committee of the whole.
On motion Of Mr.. Caswell. Of Wisconsin,
Wednesday, Feb 8, at o'clock, was set apart
for consideration Of resolutions touching the
death Of VIM. T. Price. late representative
from Wisconsin
MIR. Bragg of Wisconsin. from the committee
on military affairs, reported the Senate bill au-
thorizng the Secretary of War to accept certain
lands near Chicago. Placed the House cal
endar. Also, a Senate bill for the establishment
of q military post Denver. Referred to the
committee of the whole
Mr.. Oates of Alabama, from the committee
on revision of the laws. reported bill to pro-
hlbit the appointment of congressional commit
tees to attend funerals at the publics expense
outside the District of Columbia, and also to
/ prohibit the draping of public buildings in
mourning, except upon the authority OF the
President. Placed On tho House Calendar.
In the morning hour the House resumed, in
committee OF the whole, consideration of the
bill for the erection of public building at
Charleston. S. c. The bill approprates $4,000
for the purchase of the cite aud $500 900 for the
erection of the building.
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa, moved to reduce this
latter amount to 5000, 000 The city. he as
serted, was in its decadence and in support of
this assertion he stated that between 1860 and
1880 the white population had increased only
| 700. and between 1870 ana 1880 the entire in
crease of population was only 1903, while, be-
tween the same periods. the government re-
ceipts from all sources had steadily fallen off.
Mr.. Nbble, of South Carolina, thought that
| Mr.. Hepburns statement was not fair one
| In the period between 1860 and 1880 Charleston
had passed through all the msfortunes of four
| years of war. and at the close of the war grass
| had been growing in her streets. As he did
| not wish TO imperil the bill, he asked the COM
| mittee to agree to Mr. Hepburn's motion.
| This was done, the committee rose, and the
| bill, as amended, was passed.
| The next committee on the list was the COM
| mittee on Pacific railroads.
Mr.. Crisp, of Georgia, stated that it was the
| intention of the committee to call up the Pacific
| railroad funding bill, but as portion of the
| morning hour had been consumed, he asked tina t
| the remainder of the hour DO dispensed with be-
| fore the committee was called. The gentleman
| from Illinois {Mr. Springer) had submitted an
amendment, which was not yet printed, and
| that gentleman was not prepared to speak to-
day. He desired, by unanimous consent, that
| the previous question on the engrossment of the
| bill be removed, so that it might be open to
| amendment and to two hours debate.
| Mr. Dingle, of Maine, objected to the remain
| der of the hour being dispensed with.
| The Speaker stated that the committee on
| mines and mining had been passed over inform
| ally, and was entitled to be called before the
committee on Pacific railroads.
Mr.. Clardy, of Missouri, thereupon. on behalf
| of the committee on mines and mining, called ur
| the bill for the relief of VIM Mctiarrihan. The
merits of the McGarrihan claim were argued
| pro and con, some Of the gentlemen taking par,
| in the conversational discussion doing for the
purpose of consuming the hour. and thereby &c
| complishing Mr.. Crisps desire not to have the
| committee on Pacific railroads called.
These tactics were successful and the morn
ing hour expired without action on the resolu
ton.
The Speaker laid before the House message
from the President transmitting a communica
ton from the Secretary of State in regard to ar
invitation extended to this government to ap
point delegate or delegates to the fourth inter
national prison congress, to meet at ST. Peters
burg, in 1890, and commencing his suggestion
to the favorable attention of Congress. Re
ferred.
On motion of Mr. Hatch, of Missouri. and il
spite of the antaeonism Of Mr.. Willis, of Ken
lucky. with the river and harbor bill, tho Hous
went into the committee of the whole--Mr
Springer, of Illinois. in the chair-on the bill
creating q Department. OF Agriculture ant
Labor.
On motion of Mr. Foran. of Ohio an amend
ment was adopted increasing from "a. 600 Il
s., 600 the salary of the Com missioner of Labor
The committee then rose and the bill wa
passed-yeas 222, nays 70
1t provides that there shall be at the seat O
government executive department to b.
known as the Department of Agriculture an,
! Labor, under the control of 3 Secretary Of Agri
culture and Labor and an assistant secretary
There shall be in the Department OF Agriculture
and Labor division which shall be under tn
charge of q commissioner of labor, who shall
hold his Office for four years and until his sue
cessor shall be appointed, unless re
moved. and shall receive salary of S., 900
year. The commissioner shall collect informa
, ton upon the subject Of labor, its relation t
capital, the hours Of labor, the rate Of wages
: the cost of production of the articles produced
o the earnings of laboring men and women, tn
t means of promoting their material, social, inte
lectual and moral prosperity, and the best mean
to protect life and prevent accidents in mines
r workshops, factories and other places of indus
a try The secretary is empowered to inquire int
l the causes Of discomfort which may exist be
+ tween employers and employees within the Unite
States, and he may invite and hear sworn state
t ments from both such parties concerning tn
matters in cor troversy.
Q Mr. Herbert. Of Alabama, then called M tn
naval reorganization bill, but he was antagt
j. nized by Mr.. Hatch with motion that tn
q house go into committee Of the whole for tn
& purpose Of considering the bin amendatory
e the act establishing bureau of animal ndu
Q try. The recent outbreak of cattle disease
}, Chicago, said Mr. Hatch made it an imperatiy
J. necessity that the house should pass the bill
l. for every hours delay was dangerous.
q Mr.. Swinbnrne, of New York, hoped tn,
> the bill would not now be considered, 1t hs
never been considered by the committee on ayr
o culture.
W Hr. Hatch declared that that statement W,
misleading The bill had been considered
10 committee and a favorable report ordered.
B. Mr. Hatchs motion was agreed to, and ii
j. house accordingly went into committee of Il